Well reamer



Sept. 21, 1937. A. c. CATLAND WELL REAMER Filed Aug. 5, 1935 ALFRED C. CATLANO A TTOBNEY Patented Sept 21, 1937 attach rarest orrrce WELL nEAMEa Alfred C. Catland, Alhambra, Calif., assigncr to Globe Oil Tools Company, Les Nietos, Oalif., a corporation of California Application August 5,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a well drilling tool and relates more particularly to a well reamer. A general object of this invention is to provide a practical, effective. well reamer embodying improved means for rotatably mounting the ream ing cutters.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a well reamer embodying roller cutters positioned and mounted to be effectivein acting on the shoulder of earth formation occurring be tween the rat hole or pilot bore and the larger main portion of the bore. The reamer of the present invention isoperable to enlarge .a well bore a considerable amount and its cutters are mounted so that they are particularly adapted for enlarginga well bore having a rat hole or pi'i 'lt bore.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple, dependable means .for removably or detachably mountingrotatable roller cutters on a well reamer.

Another object of this invention is .to provide a practicalinexpensive mounting for rotatably mounting a roller cutter of awell reamer that carries or supports the cutter so that its operation does not subject the shank or reamer body to wear.

Another-object of. this inventionis to provide ajwell-reamer of the character mentioned that is such that the cutters and the wear receiving parts of the cutter mountings may be easily and quickly removed for replacement and repair.

Another object of this invention is to provide a well reamer of'the character mentioned in which the shank or body .isa simple, inexpensive memaway to appear in vertical cross section. Fig. 2 l

is a bottom elevationof the reamer. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectional View of arportion of the reamer illustrating one of the cutters and its mounting and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modified or alternative form of cuttermounting means.

The improved well reamer of this invention includes, generally, a shank or body ill, a plurality ofiroller cutters II and means 12 for rotatably 1935, Serial No. 34,653

supporting or mounting the cutters H on the body i0.

The shank or bodym is an" elongate member adapted to be interposed or connected in a well drilling string of drill pipe. The body I0 is preferably, though not necessarily, cylindrical in its general configuration and is provided at its opposite ends with means for facilitating its connection in the drilling string. In the form of the invention shown inthe drawing a tapered screw threaded pin it is provided on the upper end of the body it and a threaded socket M is provided in the lower end of the body it to facilitate the connection of the body in the drilling or operating string. Wickers or ridges may be provided on the upper portion of the'body' ill for engagement bya fishing tool or the like. In accord,- ance with the invention the body id is provided with recesses 85 for partially receiving the cut ters i l The recesses I5 are spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the body it] and are in a common horizontal plane or zone. The recesses I5 each have a-flat wall It inclined upwardly and inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body. The upper walls of the recesses It may be suitably rounded upwardly and outwardly as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. r

The invention provides bosses or pins H projecting from the flat inclined walls It of the recesses 15. Thepins IT project upwardly and outwardly, being substantially normal to the flat faces It. In the form of the invention illus tratedinFigs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing the pins ll are integral with the body Hi, Each pin I! has an annular outwardly facing shoulder 18 and a reduced portion l9 projecting or continuing outwardlyfrom itsfshoulderit. In the typical embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing there are three equally-spaced recesses F5 in the body iii each having a projecting pin H. .A central longitudinal fluid passage 2i! extends through the body W from one end to the nular inwardly projecting flange 23 at its inner end forming a restriction in the inner end portion of its opening 22. The roller cutters l l are frusto-conical, having inclined or pitched peripheries. Axially extending cutting parts or teeth 2 4 are provided on the cutters II. The teeth 24 of the three cutters II are formed and related so that they do not track in their engagement with the earth formation. One cutter II may have straight axial teeth 24, the second cutter II may have teeth 24 spiralled in a right hand direction and the third cutter II may have its teeth spiralled in the left hand direction. The outer corners of the cutting teeth 24 are bevelled or cut away at 25 so that they are substantially vertical when they come into active engagement with the formation to effectively trim the wall of the well bore.

The means I2 for rotatably supporting or rotatably mounting the cutters II on the body Ill is an important feature of the invention. The means I2 includes caps or legs 26. A leg 26 extends across the outer side of each recess I5 between its pin I! and the portion of the body Ill immediately above the recess. Recesses or notches 27 are provided in the exterior of the body ID at the upper ends of the recesses I5 to receive the upper end portions of the legs 26. The upper portions of the legs 26 fit the recesses 21 so that the walls of the recesses assist in holding the legs against lateral and upward movement and displacement. The legs 26 are inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the reamer being in planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axes of the pins Ill. The upper end portions of the legs 26 are removably secured to the body It] by screws 28 threaded into openings 28 in the body. The heads of the screws 28 are countersunk or inset in sockets 30 in the legs 26. The outer surfaces of the legs 26 are preferably inclined or tapered downwardly and outwardly to facilitate the withdrawal of the reamer from the well.

In accordance with the invention the caps or legs 26 have studs or bearing parts 3| rotatably supporting the cutters II which parts, in turn, are mounted on the pins IT. The bearing parts 3! are integral with the legs 26 projecting downwardly and inwardly from their inner sides. Openings or sockets 32 are provided in the bearing parts 3| to receive the outer major portions of the pins I'I. The sockets 32 accurately or closely receive the pins I? and the shoulders I8 cooperate with the end walls of the sockets so that the bearing parts 3| have effective bearing engagement with the pins. The outer bearing surfaces of the bearing parts 3| are cylindrical and concentric with the surfaces of the pins IT. The legs 23 are removably attached to the body pins I i. Openings 33 extend outwardly through the legs 26 from the sockets 32 to receive the reduced portions I9 of the pins. Nuts 34 are threaded on the reduced portions I9 of the pins IT to rigidly connect the legs 26 with the pins I'I. The nuts 34 are received in sockets 35 in the outer sides of the legs 26 and are held against unthreading by cotter keys 36.

The cutters II are arranged on or around the bearing parts 3| with their smaller ends facing inwardly and with their flanges 23 projecting inwardly at the inner ends of the bearing parts 3|. Anti-friction bearing means are provided for rotatably supporting the cutters I I. Roller bearings 3'! rotatably support the cutters II on the cylindrical bearing parts 3! Thrust bearings are provided at the inner ends of the cutters I I. The thrust bearings include washers 38 surrounding the pins I1 and seating inwardly against the inclined surfaces I6. Series of balls 39 operate in grooves or races in the washers 3B and the inner ends of the cutters I I. The series of balls 39 and the washers 38 form effective anti-friction bearings for transmitting inward thrusts from the cutters to' the body I0. Bosses 40 may be provided on the inner surfaces of the legs 26 around the bearing parts 3| to space the outer ends of the cutters I I from the inner sides of the legs. The cutters I I mounted as just described project from the periphery of the body In and their active toothed peripheries face downwardly below the legs 26 to act on a shoulder of the earth formation in the well bore. Being frusto-conical and rotatable about axes inclined downwardly and inwardly the lower peripheral parts of the cutters I I are substantially horizontal as they come into active contact with the earth formation.

It is believed that the utility and practicability of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The body II] is adapted to be connected in a drilling string and as the string is rotated and fed downwardly in the usual manner the cutters I I are adapted to act on the formation to enlarge the well bore. It will be noted that the cutters II project substantial distances from the periphery of the body I so that they are effective in enlarging the diameter of the well to a substantial degree. As the active portions or teeth 24 of the cutters II are substantially horizontal as they come into engagement with the earth formation they are well adapted for cutting away the formation at the annular shoulder present in a well having a rat hole or reduced pilot bore. The cutters carried by the bearings 37 and bearing inwardly against the series of balls 39 are supported for free independent rotation. The mounting means I2 is such that the cutters II are dependably retained in their active operative positions. The bearing parts 3| support the cutters II through the medium of the bearings 31 so that the body pins Il are not subjected to wear. In a like manner the series of balls 39 and the thrust washers 38 transmit the inward thrusts from the cutters to the body and protect the body against wear from these thrusts. The circulation fluid passing downwardly through the passage 20 discharges from the ports 2I to effectively flush the cutters I I. The legs 25 may be easily detached from the body I ll by removing the screws 28 and the nuts 34 to permit the removal of the cutters II and the bearings. Thus the wearing parts of the mounting means may be readily replaced. The cutter mounting means I2 are simple and inexpensive and embody a minimum number of parts.

Fig. 4 of the drawing illustrates a modified or alternative form of cutter mounting means which may be employed to rotatably support the cutters I I on the body II]. In this form of the invention the body pin I'I is a separable part having an end portion threaded into a socket 50 in the body. The pin I'I projects upwardly and outwardly being substantially normal with the body wall or surface I6. If desired the pin I'I may be welded to the body In as at The cutter mounting means includes a leg 26 similar to the leg 26. The upper portion of the leg 26 is received in the body recess 21 and is secured to the body by the H screws 28. The leg 26 is provided with an opening 52 receiving the pin II and has a bearing portion 3W surrounding the pin. The leg 26 is connected with the pin I'II by a lock member or lock pin 62 driven or arranged through an opening intheleg and cooperating with an annular groove 53. inthe outer portion of the pin H The bearing part 3| rotatably supports the cutter I I and the bearing part 3I is, in turn, supported on the pin H In. practice a roller bearing 54 may be provided in the opening of the cutter I I to rotatably mount the cutter on the bearing part 3%. The flange 23 of the cutter I I projects inwardly at the inner end of the bearing part 3I A thrust Washer 55 surrounds the pin I'I and bears against the face Hi. A series of balls 55 operates in grooves or races in the washer 56 and the inner end of the cutter II. The cutter I l rotatably mounted as just described operates in the same manner as the cutters II of the previously described form of the invention. The cutter mounting means shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing dependably and effectively mounts the cutter for free independent rotation. This form of mounting means is particularly simple and inexpensive as the pin I I may be a separable part and is easily applied or attached to the body III.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a well reamer, a shank saving a projecting pin, a member removably secured to the shank at a point removed from the pin, a bearing part carried by the member and engaged on and surrounding the pin, and a cutter rotatable on the bearing part.

2. In a well reamer, a body having a recess, a pin projecting from a wall of the recess, a member removably attached to the body at a point removed from the pin and extending across the mouth of the recess, a tubular bearing part on the member extending inwardly over the pin, and a cutter rotatable on the bearing part.

3. In a well reamer, a body having a recess, a pin projecting from a wall of the recess, a member removably attached to the body at a point removed from the pin and extending across the mouth of the recess, means removably connecting the member with the pin, a bearing part rigid with the member and engaging around the pin, and a cutter rotatable on the bearing part.

4. In a well reamer, a body having a recess, a pin projecting from a wall of the recess, a member extending across the mouth of. the recess, means removably securing the member to the body above the recess, a tubular bearing part on the member extending inwardly over the pin, and a frusto-conical roller cutter rotatable on the bearing part and facing downwardly to act on the earth formation.

5. In a well reamer, a body having an upwardly and outwardly projecting pin, a member removably attached to the body at a point removed from the pin and engaging the outer end of the pin, a bearing part carried by the member and engaging around the pin, and a cutter rotatable on the bearing part.

6. In a well reamer, a body, a pin fixed to the body and projecting upwardly and outwardly from the body, a member extending downwardly over the outer end of the pin, means removably attaching the member to the body, a roller bearing rotatable about the pin and retained thereon by the 75 member, a reaming cutter carried by the bearing,

and an anti-friction bearing between the inner end of the cutter andthe body.

7. In a well reamer, a body having an upwardly and outwardly projecting pin, a memberremovably attached to the body at a point removed from the pin and extending to the outer end of the pin, a tubular bearing part on themember extending inwardly over the pin, and a roller cutter rotatable on the bearing part.

8. In a well reamer, a body having an upwardly and outwardly projecting pin, a member removably attached to the body and extending downwardly to the outer end of the pin, a tubular bearing part projecting from the inner side of the member and surrounding the pin, a roller cutter rotatable on the bearing part, a flange on the inner end of the cutter projecting inwardly at the inner end of the bearing part, and an anti- I friction bearing between the body and the inner end of the cutter.

9. A well reamer including a body, a pin projecting outwardly from the body, the pin having an outer portion of reduced diameter providing a shoulder, a member removably attached to the body and projecting downwardly to engage inwardly against said shoulder, the member having an opening receiving the said outer portion of the pin, a nut threaded on said outer portion of the pin to attach the member to the pin, and a cutter rotatable about the pin and retained thereon by the member.

10. A well reamer including a body, a pin projecting outwardly from the body, the pin having an outer portion of reduced diameter providing a shoulder, a member removably attached to the body and projecting downwardly to engage inwardly against said shoulder, the member having an opening receiving the said outer portion of the pin, a nut threaded on said outer portion of the pin to attach the member to the pin, a tubular boss on the inner side of the member surrounding the pin, and a cutter rotatable on the boss.

11. A well reamer including a body having a recess and a notch above the recess, a pin projecting outwardly from a wall of the recess, a

member having its upper portion received in the notch and extending downwardly to the pin,

a tubular boss on the member receiving the pin, a cutter partially received in the recess and rotatable on the boss, means detachably connecting the member with the pin, and means detachably securing the member to the body.

12. A well reamer including a body having a recess and a notch above the recess, a pin projecting outwardly from a wall of the recess and having a reduced outer portion providing an outwardly facing shoulder, a member having its upper portion received in the notch and extending downwardly to bear on the said shoulder, there being an opening in the member detachably connecting the member to the body, a tubular boss on the member surrounding the pin, and a cutter rotatable on the boss.

13. A well reamer including a body having a recess and a notch above the recess, a pin projecting outwardly from a wall of the recess and having a reduced outer portion providing an outwardly facing shoulder, a member having its upper portion received in the notch and extending downwardly to bear on the said shoulder,

there being an opening in the member receiving the reduced portion of the pin, means detachably connecting the member to the body, a nut threaded on the reduced portion of the pin to connect the member and pin, a tubular boss on the member surrounding the pin, a cutter rotatable on the boss, and a thrust bearing on the pin seated against said wall.

14. A Well reamer including a body having a recess and a notch above the recess, a pin projecting outwardly from a wall of the recess, a member having its upper portion received in the notch and extending downwardly to the pin,

the member having an opening receiving the outer portion of the pin, and an opening intersecting the first mentioned opening, a lock part in the second mentioned opening cooperating With the pin to connect the member with the pin, a tubular boss on the inner side of the member surrounding the pin, and a roller cutter rotatable on the boss.

ALFRED C. CATLAND.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,095,652., September 21, 1957;

ALFRED C GAI'LAND It is hereby certified that erfor appears in the printed specifioatioxi of the aboire ntmhered patent requiring correction as follows Page}, first coltmn, line 51, cI Laiml, for the word "saving" i' 'ead having; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the 1 same may conform to the record. of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. D. i957- Henry Van Arsdale (s eal Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

